Argentum Update / Senior Living News

Stay in the Know with Argentum Update

Each week readers are guaranteed a variety of articles that will help you better understand forces shaping the senior living business, affecting seniors and their families, and raising the bar for operational excellence.

Weekly Argentum Update Archives:

Other featured articles include: Senate Approves 21st Century Cures Act, Health Care Executives See Staffing, Drug Costs as 2017 Challenges, Dementia Is Leading Cause of Death in England, Wales, Researchers Find Link Between Alzheimer’s and Heart Disease...

Recent Senior Living News:

On December 7, the Senate voted 94-5 to approve the 21st Century Cures Act bill. The bill seeks to expedite the process of getting new drugs and medical devices to the marketplace and provides funding for biomedical research.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease has replaced heart disease as the leading cause of death in England and Wales, making up 11.6 percent of all registered deaths in 2015, according to a bulletin from the United Kingdom’s Office for National Statistics.

The Senate Aging Committee this week held a hearing focusing on the financial abuse of older Americans by guardians and others and concurrently released a new report by the Government Accountability Office on guardianship abuse.

In October, Argentum and other leading industry associations entered into a new agreement with Motion Picture Licensing Corporation. The 2016 agreement establishes a special, limited time discount of 40 percent for qualifying member communities when an Umbrella License® is purchased before December 31, 2016.

“Mini brains” grown in a lab and small enough to fit on the head of a pin are helping researchers better understand how the brain works and in turn, better understand diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Down syndrome and Zika.

Showing the highest rate of 11 countries surveyed, 28 percent of American adults said they have two or more chronic illnesses such as arthritis, diabetes or high blood pressure. Twenty-six percent said they experienced emotional distress they couldn’t cope with by themselves, according to a report in Modern Healthcare.

Colorado became the sixth state to approve language allowing terminally ill patients to end their own lives thanks to approximately two-thirds of voters supporting Proposition 106, the Colorado End-of-Life Options Act.

Assumptions about old and young workers are often wrong, according to results of a new survey published in Harvard Business Review. The survey of more than 10,000 people ages 24 to 80 showed far fewer differences between age groups than traditional stereotypes. The researchers say it might be because people are living longer and working longer – and differently.

Educating family and other caregivers about a primary benefit of the Social Security’s Representative Payee Program may help expand its coverage, according to a new study from the Center for Retirement Research.

The National Quality Forum has published a new issue brief “Strategies for Change – A Collaborative Journey to Transform Advanced Illness Care,” focusing on the nation’s transformation to person-centered care integrating individual preferences on medical, functional, social and emotional needs.

The Social Security Administration announced that the cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, for Social Security benefits will be 0.3 percent for 2017 and because of that low COLA, a statutory “hold harmless “ provision designed to protect seniors largely will prevent Part B (physician and outpatient hospital services) from increasing for about 70 percent of beneficiaries.

The Centers for Disease Control’s National Center for Health Statistics has launched the third wave of the National Study of Long-Term Care Providers, a biennial national study of the major sectors of paid, regulated providers of long-term care services.

The Social Security Administration has launched a new health information technology initiative with the Department of Veterans Affairs enabling all Social Security disability case processing sites to receive medical records electronically from all VA sites.

Nurses are leaving the workforce more quickly than they are entering it, according to the Wall Street Journal, and that news comes with the American Nurses Association estimating that the United States will need 1.1 million new RNs by 2022.

Senate Finance Committee staff have issued a draft of legislation to address chronic care issues, which includes asking for a report to Congress to inform the development of a Medicare payment code for creating a long-term care plan for a beneficiary diagnosed with a life-threatening illness such as Alzheimer’s disease.

As Americans export their love of burgers and fries to the rest of the world, it comes with a side order of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition and reported on NJ.com.

A new study seeks to describe the characteristics and health spending of Medicare beneficiaries with physical and cognitive impairments, or PCI, and estimate their likelihood of becoming a Medicaid beneficiary.

While the senior living industry faces challenges in growing, training and retaining a caring, professional workforce, its status as a recession-proof, growth industry attractive to millennials will help create solutions, according to an expert in leading and managing organizational change.

Interest in a career in the senior living industry is closely and directly linked with awareness and familiarity with senior living, according to the results of a new survey published by Argentum and conducted by national polling firm ORC International.

The Food and Drug Administration has issued draft guidance for public comment on the clinical evaluation of software as a medical device, or SaMD (PDF), which could impact the expanding number of digital health and mobile apps.

Membership in Argentum gives your company insight into and input on important issues facing the industry, and is a resource for national and state advocacy, professional development, training, certification, education, and research.

Argentum, which advocates for excellence in senior living, hosted distinguished speakers and guests at a memory care symposium last week to highlight innovations in advancing care and cure for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

People around the world are living longer than in any time in human history, but new research says we’ve hit the upper limits of longevity. Dr. Jan Vijg, an expert on aging with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, says humans will never get older than 115, according to evidence published in the journal Nature and reported in the New York Times.

There is a tectonic shift in U.S. workplaces with a vast majority of U.S. workers saying new skills and training hold the key to their future job success, according to a new Pew Research Center survey conducted with the Markle Foundation.

A means to prevent Alzheimer’s disease is not in the near future, but a variety of diagnostic and treatment strategies can improve quality of life by delaying the onset of symptoms, according to medical experts speaking at an Argentum Memory Care Symposium at the National Press Club.

The landscape of long term care policy is changing and senior living leaders would be well served to continue to lean in on the issues to shape the debates and steer the industry’s future, said panelists at Argentum’s Public Policy Institute on Capitol Hill last week.

Senior Living Executive has released its annual list of the senior living industry’s largest providers, finding few shakeups in the top 10 with growth expected to continue for the next couple of years.

The Administration on Aging has announced the release of more than $1 million to the senior advocacy group Justice in Aging to create a new National Center on Law and Elder Rights, which will support efforts to protect the rights, financial security and independence of older adults.

Compounding market forces continue to pressure human capital costs in senior living. Over 17 states have raised or are planning to raise their minimum wages. Retailers like Wal-Mart already have boosted their entry level pay. Add in growing demand to a competitive talent market with the limited supply of qualified workers, and labor costs can quickly spiral out of control.

The National Institute on Aging has launched the third phase of an initiative to better understand Alzheimer’s disease by identifying and validating biological markers, or biomarkers, that signal its onset and development.

In 2012, more than 2.5 million Medicare beneficiaries had a dementia diagnosis, according to a new study published in JAMDA (Journal of American Medical Directors Association) examining which clinical specialties are currently taking care of older adults with dementia.

Argentum is now accepting conference session and speaker recommendations for the Argentum Senior Living Executive Conference May 1-3 in Nashville, Tennessee. Argentum is also accepting nominations for the Heroes in your community, top leadership in your company and solutions to the biggest industry issues. The deadline has been extended to November 15, 2016.

Many older Hispanics expect to provide care for an aging family member or friend within the next five years, although few say they are prepared to do so, according to a new study from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

The National Institutes of Health has released its budget proposal for fiscal year 2018 outlining the optimal approach it would take to meet the research goals of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease, and asking for an additional $414 million above NIH’s base appropriation for addressing dementias.

At the 2016 South by Southwest Festival, visitors to the IBM Cognitive Studio were asked to respond to three questions. The results showed that out of more than 400 responses, 46.5 percent of respondents said loss of memory and dementia worried them the most, followed by 25 percent worried about losing independence and 16.5 percent worried about acquiring physical disabilities.

High-need adults, who are defined as having three or more chronic diseases and limitation in ability to care for themselves, account for a high proportion of health care spending and most are age 75 and older, according to new data analysis from the Commonwealth Fund.

Applications for Assisted Living Executive Director certification and registration for the fall testing period for the certification examination are now open. Successful completion of the exam is one of the requirements for attaining certification through the SLCC. November 1 marks the registration deadline for the testing period taking place this fall; November 15 is the late registration deadline.

Counties throughout the United States have developed effective community-based efforts to prevent, identify and respond to financial exploitation of older adults, found a new report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Medical device companies will pay about $1 billion in fees to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 2018 to 2022 to give the agency resources to hire additional reviewers and to fund information technology and infrastructure improvements, according to a report in Politico citing statements by three device trade associations.

Motion picture showings within senior living and health care communities have always required a public performance license in accordance with the US Copyright Act. Over time, public awareness of intellectual property rights has grown along with enforcement of federal copyright law. As a result, Argentum, and all other leading industry associations have entered into a new agreement with Motion Picture Licensing Corporation (MPLC).

Researchers from the University of North Carolina's Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research and School of Social Work, with funding from The Center for Excellence in Assisted Living (CEAL), completed a review of measures and instruments useful for maintaining and improving quality in assisted living.

CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics has launched the third wave of the National Study of Long-Term Care Providers (NSLTCP), a biennial national study of the major sectors of paid, regulated providers of long-term care services.

This week, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) sent a letter to the National Hockey League (NHL) Commissioner, urging the league to establish an independent fund to sponsor research on the linkage of hockey, head trauma, and brain disease.

A positive attitude about aging makes older adults more resilient when facing stressful situations, according to new research from North Carolina State University published in the Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences.

Senior living firms are poised for progress with accountable care organizations, ready to engage with these groups of doctors, hospitals and other healthcare providers who unite to provide high quality, lower-cost care for Medicare recipients.

While accountable care organizations (ACO) are still evolving, some have already defined quality measures for skilled nursing communities, and quality measures for assisted living communities are emerging. As a senior living provider, you can’t afford to ignore ACOs. As ACOs make decisions about where patients are referred after release from acute care facilities, will your organization be on the short list?

Intergenerational programs are taking shape around the country as more colleges and communities are experimenting with bringing the nation’s young and old together to foster kinship and improve quality of life for all ages.

Medicare announced the average basic premium for a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2017 is expected to remain “relatively stable” at an estimated $34 per month – an approximate $1.50 increase over the average premium in 2016.

We’re more than halfway done with 2016. (Can this even be possible?) How’s your career humming along? Did you vow to make this the year you make a change, snag a promotion, or gain new skills or credentials?

A slew of new research was discussed at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto this week. Two studies suggested that a low-cost odor identification test has proven useful in predicting cognitive decline and detecting Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages.

Virginia lawmakers are asking the Office of Personnel Management just why premiums in the federal long-term care insurance program are expected to zoom up to 126 percent higher, following a government announcement last week.

Kathy Greenlee made her final public speech as assistant secretary on aging in San Diego this week, highlighting key themes during her seven-year tenure, which she said included attitude, dignity and leadership.

Senior Living Executive magazine invites submissions for its 5th annual Senior Living by Design awards program, highlighting cutting-edge and creative architecture, interiors and outdoor spaces found in senior living communities today. The open period for nominations ends Friday, August 12.

Total health spending growth is expected to average 5.8 percent annually from 2015 to 2025, but is at a lower growth rate that the previous two decades, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

1. What Type of Salary Are You Looking For?
Discussing money with a recruiter is one of the most unnerving parts of any stage of the interview process. And if you’re anything like me, you’ve made some mistakes in the past when trying to tell a potential employer that you’d like a fair wage, but mostly you’d just like to be hired.

The Administration on Community Living has announced grant awards of approximately $1.2 million designed to help older adults have access to legal services and are designed to aid those individuals at risk of abuse, neglect or financial exploitation.

Argentum New York recently celebrated its 10th Annual Advocacy Day in Albany, New York. Thirty two member advocates gathered to advance the Chapter’s legislative and regulatory agenda and promote the rebranding of NY ALFA to Argentum New York.

You’ve probably heard this before: “The only way to get a raise is to get another job offer.” Is it true? I talked to experts who study negotiations to get their perspectives on whether this oft-given advice holds up in practice and against research.

Senior Living Executive magazine is conducting a survey to collect data for the annual largest senior living providers list. Current industry data creates a better understanding of the senior living landscape and benefits all senior living advocates.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine recently warned of phone scams targeting Ohio grandparents, following an increase in complaints. In the past month, 11 Ohioans have reported losing an average of $3,800 to the “grandparent scam.”

The latest draft bill from the House Appropriations Committee for funding programs in fiscal 2017 includes $73.2 billion for the Health and Human Services Department, which is more than the White House requested.

How cool would it be to have an X-ray into the head of the person who controls your career fate? To understand exactly what a hiring manager at your dream company is thinking when she’s picking which lucky candidate she’ll bring on full-time?

The Northern District Court of Texas issued a nationwide injunction Tuesday against a wide-reaching Labor Department rule governing union organizing and collective braining known as the “persuader rule.”

Americans face an alarming $7.7 trillion gap between what they actually have saved for retirement and what they will need, said the head of the Senate Special Committee on Aging in her opening statement at a hearing on innovations to promote Americans’ financial security.

Greater integration is needed between the nation’s health care and housing systems(pdf) to help manage chronic disease, improve health outcomes for seniors, and enable millions of Americans to age successfully in their own homes and communities, according to a Bipartisan Policy Center report.

The New York State Assembly and Senate passed Assembly Bill 10707/Senate Bill 8110 on June 16. The measure will allow Advanced Home Health Aides (AHHA) to perform some nursing tasks such as the administration of certain medications while under the supervision of a registered nurse.

The 2016 Argentum Senior Living by Design awards program is now open. The program honors architects, design firms, and senior living providers that achieve innovative architecture in senior living communities. The open period for nominations ends Friday, August 12.

Argentum is offering a 115-page report “Building Regulation and Assisted Living: A National Analysis Report” to educate the industry about the web of regulations throughout the states and to offer suggestions for better state agency coordination.

Growth in the nation’s adult population will drive significant household growth over the next decade and beyond, according to the just-released State of the Nation’s Housing: 2016 from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. Demographic changes will drive the addition of more than 13 million households from 2015 to 2025.

Two Butler BlueSox players recently learned the finer points of Bingo during a game with their fellow residents at IntegraCare’s Newhaven Court at Clearview, a senior living community in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Applying for jobs has become incredibly simple thanks to the Internet. Job board sites like Monster and Indeed make submitting your resume as easy as clicking “apply”. The problem? If it’s easy for you, it’s easy for everyone else, too. Many online job postings get hundreds or thousands of applicants. To help field those resumes, many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems, which have their own resume guidelines...

Argentum staff this week visited Kensington Senior Living’s Kensington Park in Maryland. The community’s executive director, Mary Mell, kindly invited us to meet with staff and residents and tour the community, which includes independent and assisted living as well as memory care.

Many people expect to rely on Medicare and Social Security to pay for their long-term care needs as they get older, even though those programs do not cover most of those costs, according to a new AP-NORC poll.

Have you ever admired a co-worker who’s able to navigate challenging situations with ease and professionalism, no matter the politics and difficult personalities involved? You know the type: She has a Teflon-like ability to deflect anger and frustration in the problem-solving process and doesn’t settle for an outcome that would sacrifice her self-respect or clout among colleagues.

Argentum is pleased to partner with Aging2.0 to conduct the 2016 Senior Care Innovation & Technology Use Survey to advance a greater understanding about how senior care organizations from across the care continuum are approaching innovation and implementing technology to support care.

It’s time to move beyond the hype. Millennials mean a lot to senior living. They are the largest generation in the U.S. workforce. With a shortage that is expected to require an additional 1.2 million senior living workers, it’s critical to win the Millennial market. Here are four tips to attract Millennials to your senior living organization.

Total spending on healthcare for a family of four with employer-sponsored health insurance will rise to more than $25,000 in 2016, according to the Milliman Medical Index. The cost of care for the American family of four has more than tripled since 2001.

Vitality Senior Living, a new Nashville-based senior living provider has completed the purchase of BrightWater of Victoria effective December 1, 2016. Vitality will rebrand the community as Vitality Court. Vitality Court features 98 apartments offering independent living, assisted living and dementia care lifestyles.

Sonata Senior Living will assume management of four assisted living and memory mare communities in South Florida. The four communities are owned by HCP Inc. (HCP), a real estate investment trust, and have been under long-term lease to another operator. This transaction will increase Sonata's total operating capacity to 425 units with one additional community in development, Sonata West, which is scheduled to open in the summer of 2017.

The Certified Director of Assisted Living (CDAL), given by the Senior Living Certification Commission (SLCC), establishes professionalism and sets the standard for quality in the senior living industry. According to Tim Buchanan, who chairs the SLCC Board of Commissioners, Anhar was among the first 300 assisted living executive directors across the country who qualified.